quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
If I send you the KY jelly you can put that muzzle break somewhere more useful than on the end of a hunting rifle

Ganyana, you've said it best! Now, what's the highest and best use of "see-thru" scope rings?

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! Now, what's the highest and best use of "see-thru" scope rings?

Not 100% sure- but 'll gladly fit them free of charge to any wanabe gook's snipers rifle...

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Originally posted by Ganyana:
If I send you the KY jelly you can put that muzzle brake somewhere more useful than on the end of a hunting rifle

Agreed.

I read your article in Rifle, and I'm anticipating more writing from your part of the world. We've gotten great input in the past from Agaard and Siefried[sp?], and it looks like John B. won't be coming to us in HandLoader and Rifle in the future. I will look forward to your visits. The insights are informative as well as entertaining. Your input on short-stroking a magnum-length action is the first that I've seen that didn't say that it shouldn't be a problem. You have first-hand knowledge that it is and understand why. I for one greatly appreciate your sharing your experience with us.

Thanks.

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
The other thing is most of the nayseekers hunt without ear protection and end up damageing their ears with rifles without brakes..The brake is a little louder, but does no more damage to the shooter than any big bore rifle that is too loud to start with....

This is not true. The Decible scale is logrithmic. A few more decibles means that it's a lot louder. It's true that shooting unbraked rifles can and will damage your hearing, but shooting braked rifles DOES damage your Hearing much faster than unbraked rifles...................................DJ

Well, here goes...
If people will stop trying to make 300 magnum class rifles weight 5 lbs the idea of a muzzle brake comes up a lot less.
The first brakes I remember seeing (1962)were on the old BSA rifles in 30-06 that weighted about 5 1/2 lbs. Over the years as everyone wanted bigger calibers but didn't want to carry a gun that was weighted according to the caliber, brakes became more common. I have a big gun that has one of the old Pendleton brakes on it but it came to me that way. Those brakes don't have enough big holes to make a serious recoil reduction and I'm not sure about the noise difference on that brake when I light up 88 grs of powder anyway. I'm not as durable with heavy recoil as I once was so if I want a light weight magnum, that baby is going to have a brake on it. A 5 lb 30-06 isn't a real joy at the bench either.

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Levang Linear Compensator?

I just found out about this one. I looked it up on the 'net - interesting!

The only brakes I would consider are Vias and BPtec. I know opinions on brakes are all across the board. My self I am more sensitive to blast over recoil per se. If a brake reduces recoil while not increasing muzzle blast then all is good and I won't bitch about them

Before my last hunt hunt I was at the range sighting in. There were a couple of shooters proclaiming their brakes were the solution to their horrible 300 Win recoil. The brakes on their rifles might have helped them but they were horrible to me! I was muffed and ear plugged and their braked rifles still rocked me. I was shooting my unbraked TRG-S 338 Lapua. I though it was a beast untill I got into the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott! Now, although I won't say my Lapua is a pussycat it is easier and more enjoyable to shoot well due to my big bore experiences.

If you need a brake just be aware of those around you. While you may in "the comfort zone" your bench/hunting partners will take the hit for you. To paraphrase a wise sole..."most brakes don't reduce recoil, they just spread it around to those around you."

John

I have tried a number of different muzzle brakes on a number of guns ranging from a .300 up to .458. I got rid of all the guns that had them. Why?

1. NOISE - Bad for you, but downright terrible and inconsiderate to anyone you are hunting with.
2. They are ugly - an issue only if the aesthetics of your gun matters to you.
3. They make the barrel longer - a problem for much of my hunting.
4. I never really enjoyed the so-called advantage: reduced recoil. In the field, I really don't feel the recoil. At the bench, a 25# bag of bird shot between the gun and your shoulder will allow you to shoot any gun all day.

If you really can't stand the recoil of the gun - get a different gun. I would personally steer away from magnums in a gun as light as a Kimber. You would be hard-pressed to find a hunting situation where a .30-06 (or in most cases a .308) puts you at a real disadvantage vs. a .300 magnum. If you want a light gun, get it in a caliber that will allow you to shoot it well.

If flat shooting is the real reason you want that .300 but can't take the recoil, try a .264 Win, Mag or a 7 Mag. With the right bullet they will both slay critters far bigger than many folks realize.

If you need a big game rifle, get a .375 (or better yet a 9.3) instead of that .416 or .458. And stay away from the light guns!

I will not own a gun with a brake, nor will I hunt with someone that does.

I like brakes and have them on a .270 a 7mmMag, a 7mm08 and a 308. I like the BOSS best because, properly tuned it helps accuracy and allows one the I option of replacing it with the compensator and hunting without ear protection.
The Que brake, if still available, has some of the Boss advantages. I have a Gentry which diverts the gas slightly forward reducing the noise a bit but I wouldn't use any brake without ear protection, even hunting. I always use hearing protection/enhancement when I hunt to save the high frequencies I have didn't damage shooting M-16s in the army. I find a slightly muzzle heavy gun is easier to shoot off-hand so that's a plus for brakes. I've also found that deer can't tell where my shot came when I use a brake, so on several occasions I've dropped two from the same group before they figured out a good direction to run. As to appearance...I consider a rile more of a hammer than a work of art and don't give a hoot what one looks like.

If you need a brake, then you need either a heavier weight rifle or a smaller caliber. The damn things are too loud and have no place on a rifle while hunting with a guide or anyone else along side you for that matter. Last guy that shot one of those damn braked rifles next to me with his .338 mag, I about grabbed the damn thing and broke his neck with it! If you feel you need one on your big bore, for Gods sake just except the fact you need a smaller caliber. Get one you can shoot effectivly without the brake and you won't need a bigger gun. My ears are still ringing from that F$#@^! thing!

Oooor, you buy a removable break like I always recomend to use at the range...and remove it in the field. Same concept as a PAST shield, you sure don't use it in the field but its a lifesaver at the range.

If you need to use a muzzle brake you should just go back in the closet (with your KY).

I know alot of people say that the ranges should be muzzle break free, what about the short mag cartridges, are you going to ban them from the ranges as well? They bark as loud as most rifles with brakes do. Where will this insanity stop!!!!
Just wear hearing protection and eye protection and go shooting and have some fun.

I've used ear protection. Don't matter! The damn blast has damaged my ears even with them on. I've heard a few personal stories about a client hunting with a guide while using a break on a big caliber rifle, and letting it go while the guide was right next to the muzzle. I bet that guide was simply overjoyed. I just don't see a point in a break for any valid reason. But then I could not bring myself to use a range finder or even a very high power scope for that matter. I must be old school where you just needed to learn to shoot, and if you could not shoot well with a certain caliber, you got a smaller one until you could. Kind of a dinosaur I guess. All these fandangeled gadgets seem to give me the jitters. No offense to those who do use them, but you won't go shootin with me if your rifle is wearin a frigin break.

If you like going to the range and having everyone leave/move away from you - get a brake

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Just wear hearing protection and eye protection and go shooting and have some fun.

Can't be done - not when someone nearby is using a break!

I guess I'm pretty spoiled where my range is concerned, I go to the range when there isn't alot of people around so I haven't offended anyone with my brake. And if I do offend anyone I would put my rifle away and shoot something else that day. I really don't like going to ranges with alot of people around anyway, too much chattin and not enough shootin.
Just my 2 cents

It will be a good idea to not refer people to that criminal. REED www.vaismuzzlebrakes.com

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Originally posted by Blair338/378:
I have Vais brakes on a few of my guns.

When you are doing high volume shooting of relatively large animals such as kangaroos, feral goats etc, then they become an addition worth considering.

In the field a set of baffle type ear plugs will do the job adequately of protecting your hearing. I use these, regardless of whether the gun is braked or not. At the range I use both plugs and muffs.

They will cut the recoil by roughly 40%.....

You do have a Vais muzzlbrake! There is story you do not know visit www.vaismuzzlebrakes.com

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Originally posted by JKS:
The only brakes I would consider are Vias and BPtec. I know opinions on brakes are all across the board. My self I am more sensitive to blast over recoil per se. If a brake reduces recoil while not increasing muzzle blast then all is good and I won't bitch about them

Before my last hunt hunt I was at the range sighting in. There were a couple of shooters proclaiming their brakes were the solution to their horrible 300 Win recoil. The brakes on their rifles might have helped them but they were horrible to me! I was muffed and ear plugged and their braked rifles still rocked me. I was shooting my unbraked TRG-S 338 Lapua. I though it was a beast untill I got into the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott! Now, although I won't say my Lapua is a pussycat it is easier and more enjoyable to shoot well due to my big bore experiences.

If you need a brake just be aware of those around you. While you may in "the comfort zone" your bench/hunting partners will take the hit for you. To paraphrase a wise sole..."most brakes don't reduce recoil, they just spread it around to those around you."

John

I have used breaks in the past. They are helpfull for sighting in your gun or just getting used to your trajectory and shooting alot. For this I say if you want one get one. At the same time I will not stand beside a guy shooting one while hunting and have sold my last gun with a non-removable break because it was deafening in the bush. I think anyone who touches one off near your ear with or without a break need talking to. I think if a break gets you shooting more then good for you but work toward not hunting with it. My opinion.

Forget the brake. Your PH/Guide will appreciate it, so will your ears. Also those next to you at the range. I know people who use the Past pad at the range and in the field. If you get the break, I would use hearing protection in the field and would bring some for my PH/Guide too. I have some hearing loss along with tinnitus and would never use a break.